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A Hybrid Narrative-Systematic Review of the Global Implications and Remediation of Environmental Microplastics

Authors

Ngozika Confidence Akosile

College of Professional Studies, Department of Analytics, Northeastern University, Roux Institute, Portland, Maine, USA (USA)

Article Information

DOI: 10.51244/IJRSI.2026.1307000298

Subject Category: Education

Volume/Issue: 13/7 | Page No: 4007-4068

Publication Timeline

Submitted: 2026-07-22

Accepted: 2026-07-27

Published: 2026-08-15

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a pervasive, transboundary pollutant driven by exponential plastic production (473 Mt in 2020; projected 1,150 Mt by 2060) and low global recycling (9-13%). This hybrid narrative-systematic review synthesises 252 open-access studies (2015-2025) from PubMed and ScienceDirect to assess the generation, fate, detection, ecological and human health implications, and remediation of environmental microplastics. Dominant polymers (PE, PP, PET) and morphologies (fibres, fragments) are ubiquitous across matrices, with abundances ranging from 1-12 items/L (rivers) to 15-17 MPs/mollusc. Detection methods (FTIR, Raman, Pyrolysis-GC/MS) reliably identify MPs ≥1-20 μm but underestimate nanoplastics, skewing risk assessment. Ecological impacts include impaired feeding, reproduction, and trophic transfer, while human exposure via ingestion (4.22-22.01 MPs/day), inhalation, and medical pathways results in systemic accumulation (20.81 μg/g blood; 3.5 particles/g stool), linked to inflammation and neurotoxicity. Remediation achieves 90-99.98% removal in WWTPs, but scalability, sludge reintroduction, and nanoplastic persistence remain barriers. Geographic biases (sparse data from Africa, South Asia), methodological inconsistencies, and small-cohort health studies limit generalizability. Policy must prioritise source reduction through extended producer responsibility, virgin plastic caps, and the UNEA treaty. Research requires standardised detection, longitudinal biomonitoring, and field-scale remediation trials. This review emphasises the need for integrated governance and innovation to mitigate the global microplastic crisis.

Keywords

Microplastics, Hybrid Review, Environmental Fate, Human Health, Remediation, Policy

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